Life

Unleash Your Inner Race-Day Superhero

What do Spider-Man, Superman, and the Hulk have to teach us about racing? A video game developer and 10-time IRONMAN athlete knows first-hand.

by Ryan Schneider

If you’re a fan of the Marvel superhero movies, you know that recently Spider-Man and Iron-Man teamed up on the big screen.

But did you also know they’re buddies on the triathlon circuit too? Yep, I can vouch for that—I have direct experience with them both. How did these titans collide? I’ve spent the last few years pulling double-duty as an age-group triathlete and coach while working on the development team for Marvel’s Spider-Man, a video game now available for PlayStation 4.

The odds were against me, like any good superhero drama. Juggling family life, a busy work schedule, and my endurance sports coaching practice heavily reduced my training hours. Five plane rides, nearly a dozen trains, and adjusting to time zones during a 10-day cross-continent business trip compounded fatigue and may have led to wrenching my back the day before the race. Hauling luggage across airports and train stations sapped my strength and stamina. One of the hottest European summers on record mercilessly piled on.

This is just the sort of challenge a superhero relishes. This is what I was after, too. After completing 11 IRONMAN races, how much more could I push through that I hadn’t experienced already? How could I raise the stakes? And what happens then?

Epic action sequences from the big and small screen filled my brain before the starting cannon boomed. But the moments that required the most heroic response had far more to do with mental makeup than Thor-like strength. It became apparent throughout the days leading to and during the race that to be an IRONMAN hero, I needed to think like Tony Stark. These three superhero traits helped me the most.

Hone your Spidey-sense

Traditionally, superheroes know their adversaries as intimately as they know themselves. That’s partially what makes their battles so legendary. And of course, we often see both hero and villain hatch elaborate plans to defeat each other.

It’s often the same in triathlon. Our enemies may not have names like Thanos or Killmonger—though Mister Negative has been known to blast his metaphorical energy at us during all our races. But the effects from dehydration and cramping can feel just as staggering. To combat them, we need to think ahead and anticipate they way that Spider-Man can just before being attacked.

Not a lot goes according to plan when traveling—especially if you’re racing abroad. Inevitable delays and odd weather happen, along with language barriers and perhaps a shortage of the particular brand of oatmeal you prefer. It helps to be mentally prepared for all of this so that when (not if) it comes, you can remain calm and immediately adjust. (Unless you’re The Incredible Hulk, losing your cool doesn’t get the job done.)

The day before the race, I got rained on while lugging my unassembled bike bag to the Landiwiese race site after taking the wrong train. That followed days of poor sleep due to a massive heatwave throughout Europe. . I was tired, feeling defeated, and getting soaked. But then I remembered this was part of my own superhero journey—and smiled…albeit after a few swear words.

I wanted a challenge, and that’s what I was being served – even if I was caught off guard.

I could have done a better job planning for the unexpected during the race too. The water temperature reached 76 degrees, negating a wetsuit swim. I had thought of packing a swim skin, and then reconsidered because how in the world would a lake in Switzerland be too warm for a wetsuit?! (#globalwarming).

Further, I didn’t spend enough time studying the racecourse in advance, not wanting to make myself nervous about all the bike elevation. That meant I was ill-prepared for the funky out, left, right, right-turn swim start and so veered astray at one point.

"With Great Power Comes Great Responsibility…"

We know from comics and movies that superheroes have to make the right choices to succeed, even if it comes at a personal sacrifice. This is actually one of the key characteristics that make Spider-Man so beloved. The creative director at Marvel Games likes to say that, "When Spider-Man wins, it’s often at Peter Parker’s expense. And vice versa." It’s that push-pull tension that causes drama we’ve all experienced ourselves.

In racing, this happens when we decide between defeating an on-course nemesis in the moment even when it comes at a personal cost later in the race. Or if we’re shooting for that personal best by cycling stronger than our plan suggests, knowing it may haunt us on the run later. It’s vital to remember and adhere to larger goals to ease those short-term gratification urges.

To ensure I could reach the finish line at IRONMAN Switzerland, I had to be especially vigilant early in my trip. The tension between wanting late-night drinks in an exciting city or giving into fatigue and skipping early morning workouts had to be managed against my race-day goals, knowing the physically hardest part of my trip wouldn’t come until the very end. As part of that process, I started pre-race hydration much earlier than usual. This became the equivalent of the Heart-Shaped Herb that T’Challa consumed to become Black Panther in Wakanda.

Even superheroes have doubts. Remember what happened to Hulk in the most recent Avengers movie? (Don’t worry, no spoilers here.) Heck, we’ve all seen that moment from the Sam Raimi film or comics where Spider-Man temporarily throws his suit in the trashcan.

I hit multiple doubt points prepping to race during my business trip as well as during the event itself. That’s part of triathlon. Pre-race, I almost crumbled walking alone in the rain with all my gear and no cover. I didn’t know when I’d get to eat, or when I’d get off my feet to rest. During the race, I remember feeling like I was barely moving ascending Heartbreak Hill for the second time at mile 105 in 86 degrees, sweat stinging my eyes so badly that I couldn’t keep them open while trying to pedal upward in a straight line.

The worst moment though came at mile 15 of the marathon, when I could no longer hold a steady pace because my stomach was so upset that the only running left was to find the portable toilets between aid stations.

Deep down though, I knew I’d never quit. I remembered my reason for signing up for this race. I wanted this experience. I sought out my absolute limits, found them, and had to punch through. Every superhero has that moment in the finale where they summon the courage to simply be greater. IRONMAN Switzerland was my big moment, and became my favorite personal IRONMAN victory.

Did I establish a personal best time? Did I do anything spectacular or amazing? No. In fact, this was my second-slowest finish. I thought it would put a lid on what was supposed to be a column about unleashing superhuman performances on the racecourse. Instead, I learned that relying on my inner Peter Parker is just as important as channeling Spider-Man. In triathlon, ingenuity is just as important as pure power.

Sometimes, the most profound race day truths surface from acknowledging we’re merely human amidst the pursuit of achieving something greater: The evolution of our character.

Ryan Schneider is an 11-time IRONMAN finisher, head coach of Good Wolf Coaching, Chief Brand Officer at Insomniac Games, and most important, husband of Stephanie and father of Audra. He’ll toe the line at IRONMAN Arizona this fall (for the fifth time) to clinch his Kona Legacy spot.